pvstoy
Senior Member
I was invited to backpack into the Desolation Wilderness to work on trail maintenance at Fontanellis Lake. This is a section of the PCT and TRT. The TRTA has the agreement to maintains the length of trail along the West shore of Lake Tahoe. The 3 person paid work crew for the TRTA lost one person so I thought I would head into the back country for 4 days to volunteer and share some of my wisdom.
One section of trail has poor drainage and when the lake rises in spring the section holds water with dirt. I suggested a raised 6 to 8 inch rock causeway with ability for drainages between. Even if it has water over the rock surfaces that will give the hiker confidence to walk on top but not in the mud. So after 35 rocks we had a raised sidewalk.
I was surprised as the volume of people doing the PCT. Most gave gratitude for trail work and how nice the TRT section is compared to the PCT.
A quick summary of 3 people working. First day was just getting there and hiking to a tool cash. 2 eight hour work day and last day 1 hour finish up and hike out. So 17 hours of trail work.
Drainages cleaned or maintained: Total of 15 drains cleaned or created, in addition to 3 waterbars cleaned
Structures built or maintained: Rock sidewalk consisting of 35 rocks and filled with approximately 15 dirt bags of rubble and cobble to allow drainage as well as one stair leading into rock sidewalk consisting of 3 rocks placed. Root stair maintained by placing 3 rocks in tread to make grade and create and easier passage through eroded section, a large rock was taken out above structure to reduce braiding. 2 of 4 stairs maintained and rehabbed by placing a total of 12 rocks (6 each) below each railroad tie stair.
Number of Fire rings dispersed: 2
Illegal campsites decommissioned: 4, including approximately 8 social trails leading to them to discourage the reopening of the campsites.
Cheers....
.
.
One section of trail has poor drainage and when the lake rises in spring the section holds water with dirt. I suggested a raised 6 to 8 inch rock causeway with ability for drainages between. Even if it has water over the rock surfaces that will give the hiker confidence to walk on top but not in the mud. So after 35 rocks we had a raised sidewalk.
I was surprised as the volume of people doing the PCT. Most gave gratitude for trail work and how nice the TRT section is compared to the PCT.
A quick summary of 3 people working. First day was just getting there and hiking to a tool cash. 2 eight hour work day and last day 1 hour finish up and hike out. So 17 hours of trail work.
Drainages cleaned or maintained: Total of 15 drains cleaned or created, in addition to 3 waterbars cleaned
Structures built or maintained: Rock sidewalk consisting of 35 rocks and filled with approximately 15 dirt bags of rubble and cobble to allow drainage as well as one stair leading into rock sidewalk consisting of 3 rocks placed. Root stair maintained by placing 3 rocks in tread to make grade and create and easier passage through eroded section, a large rock was taken out above structure to reduce braiding. 2 of 4 stairs maintained and rehabbed by placing a total of 12 rocks (6 each) below each railroad tie stair.
Number of Fire rings dispersed: 2
Illegal campsites decommissioned: 4, including approximately 8 social trails leading to them to discourage the reopening of the campsites.
Cheers....
.
.